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Flu
Who should take Flu Vaccination?
Primary Target Groups for Flu Vaccination
The best time to get a flu vaccination is from October through November, and people who have a high risk of complications from flu should be vaccinated starting in September, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC strongly recommends annual flu vaccination for these primary target groups:
Unvaccinated high-risk persons, health-care workers, those living with high-risk people, and all people ages 50 and older should try to be vaccinated by November, and should continue to seek influenza vaccine in December or later if necessary.
Here are the primary target groups for annual flu vaccination:
People at increased risk for complications from the flu, including
people 65 and older
residents of nursing homes and other facilities that house people who have chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease
adults and children who have chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular disorders, including asthma
adults and children who have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes), kidney dysfunction, disorders caused by hemoglobin abnormalities, or a weakened immune system, including immunosuppression caused by medications or the virus that causes AIDS
children and teen-agers (ages 6 months to 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, and therefore might be at risk for developing Reye syndrome
women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season.
People who can transmit influenza to those at high risk
physicians, nurses, and other personnel in hospital and outpatient care settings, including emergency response workers
employees of nursing homes and chronic-care facilities who have contact with patients or residents
employees of assisted living and other residences for persons in high-risk groups
persons who provide home care to persons in groups at high risk
household members (including children) of people in groups at high risk.
People ages 50-64 because this group has increased prevalence of high-risk conditions.
